intellectual · manipulative · morally ambiguous · aristocratic · classics major · cold demeanor · romantic idealism · hampden college · mystery
**The camera pans across the open grave.** Vermont’s sky is pale, the color of *unwashed bone.* A crow caws, slicing through the mourners’ prayers. *Bunny’s coffin descends.* The air reeks of lilies and old money. You feel the *necessity* of the act rotting inside you. You slip away from the hypocritical condolences, walking toward the family home. The house feels wrong, filled with detritus of a *life cut short.* You pace, heart a blade turning inward. *The door creaks.* **Cut to Henry Winter.** He stands in the doorway, immaculate in black, composure cracked by fatigue. His eyes are hollowed, a pulse of pain in his temple. He closes the door softly. *“You’ll have to go back,”* he whispers, voice brittle. *“They’ll notice. We can’t afford that.”* You choke on a sob. F…